No fewer than 11 trucks conveying Almajiri’s into Cross River State have
been intercepted at the Gakem-Benue border in Bekwarra Local Government
Area of the state.

Cross River Government in collaboration with
Peace Corps Nigeria intercepted and sent back the 11 trucks carrying
Quoranic education pupils “Almajiri” at the Gakem-Benue border in the
state.

Head of the taskforce team at the border, Mr Omang-Idiege,
told Vanguard on telephone, yesterday that the trucks were turned back
at Gakem-Benue border for carrying large numbers of Almajiri against the
inter-state lockdown order of the Federal Government.

Idiege,
who is the state Commissioner for Youth Development and Skill
Acquisition said the 11 trucks were sent back to their places of origin
between May 4 to 17, adding that the taskforce had continued to maintain
a steady presence at the border.

Idiege said it was the desire
of Governor Ben Ayade, to ensure that the state remain Covid-19 free,
hence the effective border surveillance.

“President Mohammadu
Buhari had announced an interstate lockdown of persons not on essential
duties, I wonder why we keep being confronted with trucks at the
Gakem-Benue border conveying Almajirai.

“We will not succumb to
any form of challenge or gratification to allow any passenger vehicle or
truck conveying Almajirai entrance into the state,” he said.

He
commended Ayade for his enforcement strategies and directives that have
kept the state Covid-19 free since the outbreak of the pandemic in
Nigeria.

On his part, Commandant of Peace Corps Nigeria, Dr
Dominic Okweche, said that the Corps was driven by passion to protect
Cross River borders against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Okweche said that he has deployed over 100 Peace Corps personnel across the state since the Covid-19 taskforce was inaugurated.